19-year-old Vaz's short-film "Waghoba", which depicts real
life story of a newly protected forest in Maharashtra, was
critically acclaimed at the Festival in Bristol, United
Kingdom.

Vaz is an intern student of Bengaluru-based Felis
Creations.

"The film is total 17-minute-long. It was shot within a
period of around two months in Umred-Kharandala, near Nagpur.

Waghoba, is a real life story of a newly protected forest in
Maharashtra," Vaz told PTI here.

The bursary award is given to only one wildlife story
teller from across the world.

For the first time in the history of the festival an
Indian has bagged this award.

"Waghoba was the film that was India's entry in the
emerging talent category at the festival," she said.

The film movie was produced Felis Creation's which had
Nitye Sood as the cinematographer.

Vaz said the film spotlights the ground reality of
fear and hatred for the tiger by residents within and on the
periphery of the forest they are living in.

"In the same breath it showcases the essence of the
tigers relevance in the circle of life as well as to its
potential to tourism. The essence of the tiger's reverence in
our culture is also positively highlighted in the film," she
added.

The young filmmaker also holds a recreational pilot's
license with over 30 hours of solo flying under her belt.

She said her passion for adventure and wildlife has
taken her to all the continents.

Her name features in the Limca Book of Records as the
youngest Indian to go to North and South poles.